Manoeuvre^*

Manoeuvre is a card-driven two-player wargame from GMT Games set in the age of Napoleon. Each side commands a historical army on a chessboard of terrain tiles, aiming to shatter the enemy force or seize its ground.

What is it about?

Eight nations are on offer, from the British and French to the Ottomans and Americans, each with its own units and strengths. The battlefield is built from modular terrain squares, so no two clashes play out the same way.

How it plays

1. Play a card to move units, launch an attack, or cash in an advantage.
2. Combat resolves through cards and dice, with terrain and position mattering.
3. Wipe out the enemy units or hold enough of their territory to win.

Who it's for

• Two players after a tight, head-to-head duel
• Newcomers to the wargame genre, ages 12 and up
• Sessions around 60 minutes at a medium weight

Its lean design drew several nominations, among them the Charles S. Roberts Award and the Golden Geek Best 2-Player Board Game.

Conclusion

An approachable gateway into wargaming: far less rules baggage than the genre's heavyweights, yet enough depth for many rematches. Solo fans and larger groups miss out, since this is strictly a game for two.